“If you sign a contract for ($250 million), show me you’re 250.” Could Rudy Gobert have taken Shaquille O’Neal‘s words on a more positive note? There is no denying there are always two ways of responding to criticism. Especially when it’s coming from someone who has been there and done it. Jamal Murray has not only proved this but has accepted Shaq’s opinion with open arms.

Murray scored 32 points in the first half of the game against the Dallas Mavericks and ended up closing the game at a game-high 45 points. This is the highest he has ever scored in a first half. In a post-game interview, Murray was informed about Shaq’s opinion of him ahead of the game. And the Denver Nuggets guard could not agree more.

“I agree, 100 percent… Because when it’s games like this, you know, when I’m on and, you know, there’s nothing to worry about… That’s the sense of the group,” he said. Murray further highlighted that when Nikola Jokic gets going, he delivers most of the time, but with him performing well, the concerns for the team are reduced, as all that’s left is to focus on defense.

“He’s [Shaq] 100 percent right… I need to play my best… Need to play better. I played terrible up until today, and I’ve struggled,” Murray said.

What exactly was it that Shaquille O’Neal said before the game?

“Mr Muray, where have you been. Don’t know if you’re injured or not, so I’m not going really in. But I guarantee you once you step up and play to the level to help you get the championship y’all will be the champions again.” Now the question is whether Ben Simmons and Rudy Gobert could’ve been more accepting of Shaq’s opinion or could O’Neal have been as constructive for them as he was for Jamal.

Shaquille O’Neal’s explanation of why he’s hard on players like Rudy Gobert

Following Big Diesel’s aforementioned $250 million comments, Gobert hit back at Shaq. In his opinion, he found it sad that someone as accomplished as the 4x NBA champ would be “triggered” by another man’s finances. But was that even the case? O’Neal, at least, had a different explanation.

“A lot of these big men, when I put out these challenges, they fail the test because they respond. They’re sensitive…,” Shaq said. The former NBA star highlighted that if someone is getting $250 million now, what will his renewal check reflect? O’Neal, here, brought in NBA’s billion-dollar deals with different networks.

The 4x NBA champ further stated the obvious that a player with $250 million could aim for $500 million next by keeping his performance on par. “I’m trying to help you get it. When I speak, I try to speak from facts. It may come out wrong and you may think I’m hating…”

As for when Shaquille O’Neal called Ben Simmons “sensitive,” he also highlighted Simmons is afraid of what people are going to say about him. A thought that the 3x All-Star can ditch and focus on his performance. And with Murray taking Shaquille O’Neal’s words positively, the Nuggets guard has given players like Gobert and Simmons something to think about.